Machine for applying hood caps



J. F. PRICE 2,310,868

MACHINE FOR APPLYING HOOD CAPS Feb. 9, 1943.

Filed July 17, 1940 ll Sheets-Sheet l Ersl ATTORNEYS Feb. 9, 1943. J. F. PRICE 2,310,868

MACHINE FOR APPLYING HOOD CAPS Filed July 17, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 9, 1943.

J. F. PRICE MACHINE FOR APPLYING HOOD CAPS I Filed July 17. 1940 ll Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ftCe 4W ATTORNEYS Feb: 9, 1943. J. F. PRICE 2,310,868

MACHINE FOR APPLYING HOOD CAPS Filed Jul -17, 1940 11 sheets-she et t I1 Illlllll I u! l K I 245 &% m, /0/

INVENTOR. 1 I B7238 ATTORNEYS Feb. 9, 1943. J. F. PRICE MACHINE FOR APPLYING HOOD CAPS Filed July 17, 1940 11 sheets sheet INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

- Feb. 9, 1943. -J. F. PRICE MACHINE .FOR APPLYING HOOD CAPS Filed July 17, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheetfi v lit-i=5- Feb; 9, 1943.

- F.'PRICE v 2,310,868

MACHINE- FOR APPLYING HOOD CAPS 7 Filed July 17, 1940 I ll Sheets-Sheet '7 315 12;. I1E- E INVENTQR. ice

ATTORNEYS.

J; F. PRICE MACHINE FOR APPLYING HOOD CAPS Feb. 9,- 1943. 2,310,868

Fiied July 17, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet a IN VENTOR.

(T0111: E Pr m,

4M k/(WW ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 9, 194-3. J, PR|E I 2,310,868

MACHINE FOR APPLYING noon CAPS Filed July 17, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 9, 1943. I F PRlCE 7 2,310,868

MACHINE FOR APPLYING HOOD CAPS Filed July 17, 1940 ll Sheets-Shee 1O l :clz=l ma m9 2 ms 2 /47 i IIE- l5 INVENTOR.

/ fla yum/ ATTORNEYS.

FQEEBDQ, 1943. J PRlCE zfil lfifig MACHINE FOR APPLYING HOOD GAYEIS Filed July 1'7, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 l "9!! INVENTORZ ATTORNEYfi.

Patented Feb. 9, 1-943 MACHINE FOR APPLYING HOOD CAPS John F. Price, Fulton, N. Y., assignor to Oswego Falls Corporation, Fulton, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 17, 1940, Serial No. 346,014

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for apply! ing closures to bottles, the closures being formed from flexible sheet material and provided with a composition rendered adhesive by the application of heat to make the closures self securing on the bottles.

The invention has as an object a machine for applying closures of the type referred to and embodying a particularly economical and compact structure operable to efllciently and rapidly apply the closures to the bottles, the machine further embodying means whereby it is conveniently adjustable to accommodate different sizes of bottles.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a machin embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the machine with parts removed.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the machine, taken substantially on line 3-3. Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken through the base of the machine on substantially line 4-4, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view taken on line 5-5, Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view through the top section of the machine substantially on line 65, Figure 1, with the in-feed and out-feed star wheels arranged in relative position thereto, and the closure heating mechanism omitted.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a closure applying head.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of a closure applying head.

Figure 10 is a view taken on a line corresponding to line Ill-l0, Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view of the bottle timing mechanism with parts shown in elevation.

Figure 12 is a top plan view of the bottle timing mechanism.

Figure 13 is a plan view of the mechanism for controlling the closure feeding means.

Figure 14 is a side elevational view of the closure transfer means and contiguous operating mechanism therefor.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line l5l5, Figure 2, including a diagram of the circuit for the motor and oven control.

Figures 16 to 28 are diagrammatic views showing successive positions of the cap contracting heads as they progress along the head raising and lowering cam track.

The machine consists of a base 20 supported on legs 2|. A turret 22 is journalled on the top wall 23 of the base and provided with circumferentially spaced apart bottle supporting pads 24. The turret is provided with an upwardly extending hub portion 25 rotatably mounted upon a column 25 secured to the top wall 23 of the base as by screws 21. The turret 22 is supported on an antifriction bearing 28 carried by the bottom flange of the column 25. A ring gear 30 is secured to the under side of the turret 22 and is arranged to mesh with a driving pinion ll mounted upon the upper end of a shaft 82. The drive shaft 32 extends upwardly from a transmission 33 arranged in the base and which is driven by the motor 34 through means of a belt 35.

The super-structure of the machine is supported by a post 36 slidably mounted in the column 26, the lower end of the post being threaded into a nut 31. rotatably supported in the top wall 23 of the base as by antifriction bearing 28.

The machine includes an annular series of closure contracting heads which are supported in circumferentially spaced relation by a circular casting 40 having a depending hub portion 4| slidably fitting the hub portion 25 of the turret. The casting 40 is supported by the post 26 by an antifriction bearing 42 secured to the upper end of the casting 40 by the ring gear 43. The telescoping hub portions 25, 4| are secured against relative rotation as by keys 45. g

The cap contracting heads consist 01' a circular body 41 secured to the lower ends of spaced rods 48, 49 whichare slidably mounted in apertures formed in the periphery of the casting 45. The arrangement is such that a head is positioned above each bottle pad 24.

The heads also include an annular member 50 having a hub portion ll Journalled in the top wall of the body 41 and which is fixedly secured to a stem 52 extending upwardly between the rods 48, 49. The upper portion of the stem 52 is journalled in a bracket 53 having radially extending arms 54 secured to the upper ends of the rods 48, 49 respectively as by nuts 55.

Collars 55, 51 are arranged on the upper end of the stem 52. The collar 55 is secured to the stem as by key 58,- while the collar 51 is rotatably mounted upon the stem. The collars 56, 51 are maintained against axial movement by an adjustable collar 59 secured in place as by screw 60. The collar 56 forms the hub portion of an angle arm 6| having a roller 62 mounted at the bight thereof and a rod 63 secured to the outer end of the arm as by a pin 64. The collar 51 forms the hub portion of a triangular shaped arm having side members 65 and a base 66. A roller 61 is mounted at one end of the base 66, and the opposite end of the base is formed with a boss 68 having an aperture to slidably receive the free end' of the rod 63. A helical compression spring 69 is arranged on the rod 63 and interposed be tween the arm 6| and the boss 68, all whereby the collars 56, 51 are yieldingly rotated in opposite directions. This structure is employed to effect opening and closing of the contracting members of the head to contract the marginal or skirt portion of the closure about the neck of the bottle. t

The closure contracting mechanism of the head is identical with that disclosed in the copending application of Edward N. Lowry, Sr., No. 320,366, which application is owned by applicants assignee. Briefly described, this mechanism consists of an annular series of closure engaging members 10 of general rectangular formation mounted for radial movement in a guide plate H. The inner edge 12 of the members 10 is formed on a radius roughly that of the neck of the container or bottle, and each of the members is provided with a pin 13. The closure contracting members 10 are moved radially by cam members 14 pivotally mounted at one end on the pins 13 of the respective closure contracting members and are pivotally mounted at their opposite ends on pins 15 depending from the annular member 50. The cam members 14 are normally arranged end to end, as shown in Figure 10, and the outer side of each cam member is formed with a slot having a cam surface 16. This cam surface is cooperable with a roller 11 mounted upon a pin 18 extending into the body 41 of the head. Accordingly, when the pins 15 are moved in a clockwise direction Figure 10, the free ends of the cam members and the closure contracting members 10 are urged inwardly by the cam surface 16 of each cam member engaging the respective rollers 11 mounted on the stationary pin 18. Upon clockwise movement of the annular member 50, the cam members are likewise moved in a counterclockwise direction and when the points 80 engage the rollers 11 the cam members are moved about their pivot pins 15 and the free ends of the cam members and the members 10 are moved radially outwardly. This mechanism provides a substantially continuous jaw to effect even and uniform contraction of the skirt portion of the closure against the neck of the bottle.

The cap contracting members 10 and guide plate H are arranged in a cup shaped member 8| secured to the lower portion of the body 41 as by screws 82. The member 8| is provided with a central aperture in which an annular member 83 is arranged and which functions to engage and fold the marginal portion of the closure about the neck of the bottle. A stem 84 is slidably mounted in the tubular stem 52 and is provided at its lower end with a pad or disk 85, and the upper end of the stem 84 is provided with a collar 06 to limit the downward movement of the stem in which position the pad 85 is arranged slightly below the forming ring 83. The function of the pad is to engage the top of the closure positioned on the bottle and to hold the same on the bottle during the downward movement of the head and the folding of the marginal portion of the closure about the top of the bottle. 4

The rotation of the annular member 50 is effected by engagement of the rollers 62, 61 with cam tracks carried by a supporting member 81 secured to the upper end of the post 36 as by screws 88. The supporting member 81 is formed with an upper radial flange 89 on which the top casting 90 of the machine is mounted, and a lower radial flange 9I to which cam sections 92, 93 are secured as by screws 94. The rollers 61 engage the cam sections 92, 93 and in doing so eflect clockwise movement of the annular member 50 to move the cap contracting members 10 radially inwardly.

From the description thus far, it will be apparent that the annular series of cap contracting heads rotate in unison with the turret 22. The bottles are conveyed to and from the machine by a conventional conveyor 95 arranged to extend across the front side of the base 20. The bottles B are fed from the conveyor 95 to the, turret 22 by a star wheel 96 and the capped bottles are moved from the turret back onto the conveyor 95 by an out-feed star wheel 91. A guide member 98, arranged on pins 99 extending upwardly from the top side of the base, cooperates with the star wheels 96, 91 to properly guide the bottles to and from the turret.

Referring to Figure 4, the shaft 32 is provided with a pinion I00 arranged to mesh with a pair of idle gears IOI and each of these gears meshes with a driven gear I02, one of which is mounted upon a shaft I03 to the upper end of which the in-feed star wheel 96 is mounted, and the other gear I02 is secured to a shaft I04, to the upper end of which the out-feed star wheel 91 is secured. Accordingly, the star wheels 96, 91 also rotate in unison with the turret 22.

The closures C are heated to render the same self-securing on the bottles by an oven structure indicated generally at I05. This oven consists of a casing having inner and outer insulated side and top walls I06, I01. The casing is of general arcuate formation and a plurality of heating elements I09 are arranged within the casing. The ends of the casing are open and the closures C are moved through the casing in heat exchanging relation to the elements I09 by means of a rotary conveyor supported on the post III). The lower end of the post H0 is threaded into a nut III journalled in the top wall 23 of the base, see Figure 3, and the upper end of the post is mounted in a boss I I2 depending from a housing I I3 forming a rearwardly continuation of the top casting 90. The post I I0 is formed witha fixed collar II4 for supporting a conical shaped member II5 which is secured against rotation by set screw II6,'and the base portion of the member H5 is formed with a flange II1 forming a cam track for raising and lowering the closure carrying members of the rotary conveyor.

The conveyor consists of a cylindrical member II8 having an elongated hub I I9 supported by the member H5 and rotatably iournalled upon the upper portion of the post H0. The periphery of the member H8 is formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart axially extending slots to slidably receive posts I20, the

lower end of each post being provided with a roller I2I engaging the cam track H1. The upper end of each post is provided with a forked shaped member I22 which serves as closure carmembers to convey the caps through the oven and to deposit the heated caps on the tops 2% the bottles arranged on the pads 24 of turret The caps or closures are arranged in stack formation in a magazine tube I30 extending upwardly at an angle from the casing III depending from the housing H3. Cap transfer mechanism is arranged in the casing I3I, and the casing is mounted in juxtaposition to the cap conveyor, whereby the cap transfer mechanism is operable to remove caps from the tube I30 and deposit the same on the iorked members I22 Just prior to the time'that each of said members enters the oven iiiii.

This can transfer mechanism consists of a block tilt provided with an elongated slot I35 to receive a pin till extending outwardly from a bloch ill fixedly secured to the inner wall of i the housing lit. 'lhe block li'l is formed with an arcuate slot ltd terminating at each end in straight portion are, Mil. The upper straight portion the extends parallel to the axis of the closure magazine lit. and the lower straight nortion tilt extends vertically, or at right angles, to the closure conveying turret. The block lid is provided with a roller iii arranged to travel in the slot tilt, and the block is oscillated about the pin by a linh-ldllpivotally secured to the block as by cap screw M5 and being plvotally connected at its upper end to a link ll, as at it'l The opposite end-of the link t lt is pivoted to the side wall or the housing Mil as at Md and is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to a connecting rod ltd, the opposite end of which is mounted upon a pin lbli carried by a crank disk lei secured to one end of a shaft M2, the opposite end of which is provided with a pinion the arranged to mesh with a year lbt. near th s is mounted upon the upper end of a shaft [15h jcurnalled vertically in themachine with a gear secured to the upper end of the shalt immediately below the gear tilt and being operatively connected with a gear tilt through idler gears 6661, till. The gear ltd is secured to the upper end oi a shaft tilt also iournalled ver tically in the frame and being provided at its lower end with a pinion lEi l arranged in mesh with the ring gear ill secured to the upper end oi the casting til,

it will be apparent from the drive mechanism above described that the shaft the is rotated continuously and in unison with the turret 22 and that the block: lot is oscillated about the pin tilt and the end or the block to which the lid .is connected is caused to travel from a position adjacent the lower end of the'magaaine lit to the position shown in Figure 14, and to return from this position to its upper position. In other words, the free end of the block iil i oscillates between the lower end of the magazine I30 and a point in juxtaposition to the closure carrying forks iii. The free end of the block is provided with a conventional suction cup I68 which is connected to a stationary valve member I69'by a flexible tube lit. A movable valve member l'll is slidably mounted upon the member I09 and is provided with a vacuum port and an exhaust port. When the suction cup W8 is arranged in juxtaposition to the forked members I22, as shown in Figure 14, the valve member I'll is shifted, as indicated in that figure, to move the exhaust port I12 in register with the port in the member I69 to which the tube I10 is connected. When the suction cup I08 is moved up in juxta- H0. The valve member Ill is shifted from one position to the other by means or an angle lever pivoted at IM to a bracket ltll, one end of the lever being pivotally connected as at I03 to the valve member I, and the opposite arm I84 of the lever being arranged in the path of stops I85, I

ltll adjustably mounted on the link i.

Vacuum is supplied to the valve mechanism IFS, Ill by a suitable vacuum pump I81 arranged in the base of the machine and driven by belts l88 from motor 36, see Figure 4. The

vacuum tube lot is not connected directly to the air pump, but through a second valvemechanism which is operable upon the transfer of each bottle onto the turret by the star wheel at.

The 1 vacuum tube I80 extends from the valve member l90 mounted upon a bracket I9l arranged in the base oi the machine and provided with a laterally extending arm let. A lever is' 'journalled intermediate its ends on a pin I93 The carried at the outer end of the arm I02. One arm ltd of the lever is pivotally connected to a movable valve member i855 and the arm N36 is provided with an aperture to slidably receive a rod l9? which is pivotally connected at one end to an arm tilt secured to the lower end of a shaft N39. The shaft B99 is journalled vertically and is provided on its upper end with an arm tut having a roller til at the free end thereof and arranged below the iii-feed star wheel 96 and in the path of the bottles being fed onto the turret by the star wheel.

The rod l9? extends through the arm W6 and the opposite end-is provided with a helical compression spring 2% arranged between nuts 2th and the arm tilt. With this arrangement, a bottle beins'fed onto the turret by the star wheel tit engages the roller dill causing the shaft tilt to be oscillated in a counter-clockwise direction figure 13, and the rod til moved to the left whereby the arm ltd is caused to move to the right, shifting the movable valve member to effect register of the port 2% with the port till to which the vacuum tube tail is connected. The port 2% is connected by a flexible tube the to the vacuum pump it'i.

The valve actuating lever is also provided with an arm 2% extending in angular relationship, and the free end of which is moved into the path of the lobes Bit formed on a cam 2i i. That is, when the valve member lot has been shifted to connect the tube lot with the vacuum pump till], the outer end of the arm 28?; is moved radially inwardly toward'the cam iii whereby it will be engaged by the next cam lobe 2 ill. The com member 2H is secured to the lower end of the shaft M3 to the upper end oi which the star wheel 96 is mounted as previously explained. The cam member 2| l is fixed in a predetermined position relative to the pockets in the star wheel 96 so that the arm 209 is moved outwardly when each bottle has traveled a predetermined distance after engagement with the roller 2M. This outward movement of the arm 209 causes the valve actuating lever to be oscillated about the pivot E83 to the position shown in Figure 13 and thereby efi'ecting registration of the exhaust port 2I3 with the port 201. 7

As each bottle is progressed by the star wheel 90, the vacuum pump I81 is operatively connected to the suction cup I68 to make vacuum available thereto. During this movement of the bottle, the drive mechanism of the machine previously described functions to cause oscillation of the cap transfer block I34 and the valve mechanism I69, I'll controlled thereby to effect transfer of the lowermost cap from the magazine I39 and to deposit that cap on one of the cap carry ing fork members I22. -These fork members are also rotated in unison with the various moving elements of the machine by means of a pinion 2l5 secured to the lower end of the shaft I55 and arranged to mesh with a ring gear 216 secured to the hub H9 of the cap conveyor, as illustrated in Figure 3.

As a bottle is advanced by the turret 22, the cap deposited on the cap conveyor for that bottle is advanced through the oven I05 and the arrangement is such that when this cap has been passed through the oven and heated to proper molding condition, the bottle which actuated the lever 260 and the cap predestined therefor meet in registration, as indicated at 2", Figure 5. The cam track II! is so arranged that the post 20 supporting the cap carrying fork on which the cap is being carried descends abruptly thereby depositing the heated cap on the top of the bottle. At the time the bottle has reached the cap receiving position 2", the cap contracting head above the bottle is arranged in elevated position.

lhe vertical movement of the cap contracting heads is controlled by a roller 2I8 secured to each of the sleeves 53 and cam tracks 2|9 depending from the head casting 90. These cam tracks commence at a point 220 to effect elevation of the cap contracting heads just previous to the time the capped bottles reach the outfeed star wheel 91 and continues in elevated position during their movement around the forw rd portion of the machine to a point past the ined star wheel 96. At that point, the elevated track joins a lower portion 22f by an inclined portion 222. V

The lower section 22! extends approximately to a point 223 Figure 6, whereupon the cam track is again elevated effecting elevation of the heads to a point beyond the cap receiving position. At this point, the heads descend to fold the closures about the tops of the bottles. That is, the heads descend until the arms 54 of sleeve 53 engage the head carrying casting 40, as illustrated in Figure 7, if no bottle is present beneath the head. If a bottle is positioned below the head, the head descends until it engages the pad 85 which is positioned on the cap on the top of the bottle. Thereupon the rollers 61 engage the cam track 92 effecting radial inward movement of the cap contracting members 10. Just previous'to the time that the rollers 2 I8 engage the beginning of the cam track 2|9 as at 220, the rollers 61 engage an inclined portion 230 of the cam 93 and simultaneously the rollers 62 engage an outer cam section 231 effecting positive counter-clockwise rotation of the stems 52, see Figure 6. This operation effects radial outward movement of the cap contracting members 10 and the heads remain in this open condition until the rollers 61 engage the cam section 92, at which time the rollers 2| 8 have moved down the inclined portion 222 of the track 2I9 and are positioned on the lower portion 22 I, or the heads rest on the bottles. The cam section 92 operates, as in the case of the cam section 93, to effect closing of the heads. The purpose of lowering the heads at this time onto the tops of the uncapped bottles and contracting or closing the heads is to preliminarily position the uncapped bottle in direct axial alinement with the cap closing heads, whereby after the heated cap has been deposited on the top of the bottle, it will be contracted evenlyand uniformly about the top of the bottle. As the heads advance, the rollers 61 engage the inclined section 233 of the cam 62, and the rollers 62 engage the outer track section 234 eflectlng opening movement of the heads. Immediately thereafter, the rollers 2l6 engage the remaining elevated portion of the cam track 2I9 and are maintained in elevated position until after the heated cap has been deposited on the top of the bottle.

Accordingly, the machine operates to advance caps and bottles successively, successively heat the caps during the advancement thereof, and to bring each can in register with and deposit the same on .the top of the bottle for which it was predestined. Thereafter and during the continuous advancement of the bottles, the heated caps are molded and contracted about the tops of the bottles and are removed from the turret by the out-feed star wheel 91.

The machine also includes mechanism for adjusting the machine to accommodate bottles of different sizes such as half-pints, pints, quarts, etc. This mechanism is operable to adjust all of the operating mechanism arranged above the turret 22 including the oven I05. As previously explained, the lower end of the post 36 is threaded into the nut 31 on the lower end of which is secured a ringgear 240 and a sprocket I. The ring gear is arranged to mesh with a pinion indicated at 242, in dotted outline Figure 3, and which is secured on the inner end of a shaft 244 journalled transversely in the base 26 and provided at its outer end with a crank engaging surface 245. The lower end of the post 0 is threaded into the nut I l I to which a sprocket 246 is secured. -Upon rotation of the shaft 244, the post 36 is adjusted vertically and the nut III is operated in unison with the nut 31 by means of a chain 248 trained over the sprockets 2, 246.

The oven I05 is secured to the lower end of a pair of rods 250 slidably mounted in a bracket 25l secured to the housing H3. The oven is supported by a chain 252 secured at one end to the housing of the oven and being trained over a sprocket 253 secured to a shaft 254 journalled horizontally in the housing H3 and over a sprocket 255 journalled on a pin 256 and extending downwardly through the tubular post H6. A counterweight 251 is secured to the lower end of the chain and is of sufficient weight to move the oven I05 upwardly.

The oven is maintained in lowered position with the heating elements I09 in heat exchanging relation to the caps on the cap conveyor by means of a latch 258 pivotally mounted in the casing at 259, Figure 15, and being provided with a pawl 266 arranged to engage a projection 26f formed on the side of the sprocket 253. The opposite end 262 of the latch is operatively connected to a' plunger 263 arranged in a solenoid 264. The solenoid 264 is connected in circuit with the driving motor 34 and is accordingly energized while the motor is running.

The power supply 266 is connected to a conventional motor starter 261 which may be operated manually as by buttons 268 to energize the motor circuit 269 and also contains means operable upon overload in the circuit 269 to open the circuit. The circuit 210 connects the solenoid 264 with the motor circuit 269. Accordingly, when conveyor Q5.

the machine is stopped by manual operation of the control device 261, or the machine is'stalled, the circuit269 is automatically opened or disconnected from the power supply 266 and simultaneously, the solenoid 264 is deenergized permitting the latch 258 to move about the pivot 259 under the influence of the weight of the rear end 262 of the latch, the weighted portion 265 thereof and the weight of the plunger 263 and effect disengagement of the pawl 260 from the projection 2M. overbalance the oven I05 and move it to elevated position to reduce the heat transfer from the elements I09 to the caps that may be then positioned in the oven. This reduction in the heat transfer is suflicient to permit the caps to remain for an indefinite period within the oven without becoming overheated or damaged.

The invention also includes means whereby the operator may conveniently reset the oven to normal cap heating position. A pinion till is secured to the shaft 254 and is arranged to mesh Thereupon, the counter-weight 251 will with a pinion 215 secured to the end of a shaft tilt iournaled horizontally in the stop section to and housing I I3, and extending-to the front oi the machine and being provided with a hand wheel 2". With this arrangement, the operator can reset the oven by turning the hand wheel Zil in a counter-clockwise direction Figure '12.

I It will be understood by those familiar with bottle capping machines that the bottles B are filled on a filling machine and conveyed to the capping machine as by the conveyor 95, and that the bottles are often not uniformly spaced on the Accordingly, the bottles may not properly register with the pockets or recesses in the star wheel 96. In orderto insure proper timed relation between the movement of the botties by the conveyor 95 and the movement of the star wheel 96, a gate wheel 2% is arranged to engage the bottles just prior to their entrance into the pockets of the star wheel. The gate wheel 2% is secured to a member 2M rotatably journalled on the upper end of a stud 282 mounted in the top wall of the base at. The member hill is provided with a plurality of cam teeth 2% arranged in a predetermined position relative to the arms of the gate wheel 230. The gate wheel is normally held against rotation by a lever 23% pivoted as at 285. One arm 2% of the lever is provided with a hook or latch 28? arranged to engage the teeth 283. The arm 2% is yieldingly urged toward the member 2M" by a helical compression spring 288. The opposite end 289 of the lever is formed with an angular portion Mill arranged to engage teeth or cam lobes 29! formed on a cam member 292 secured to the shaft m3.

The teeth 29E of the cam member 292 are ar-' ranged in a predetermined position relative to the pockets of the star wheel 96. The arrangement is such that bottles moving along the contion of heat; comprising a frame, bottle advancing means operable to advance uncapped ping station, cap advancing means operable to advance caps from said supply to said capping station and during such advancement to successively position said caps in heat exchanging relation to said cap heating device, a motor operatively connected to said bottle and cap advancing means and operable to actuate the same, said cap heating device being movable out of heat exchanging relation to said caps, latch mechanism operable to hold said device in heat exchanging relation to said caps, and electro-responsive means energized concurrently with said motor and operable when energized to maintain said latch in holding position, said electro-responsive means being also operable upon interruption of the current to said motor to release said latch, and means operable to move said cap heating deviceout of heat exchanging position upon re lease of said latch.

' 2. A machine for applying hood caps to bottles, the skirts of which caps are provided with a substance rendered adhesive by the application of heat; comprising a frame, bottle advanc ing means operable to advance uncapped bottles to a capping station, means for supporting a supply of caps, a cap conveying member operable to convey caps from said supply to said capping station, and a cap heating member arranged intermediate said supply and said capping station, oneof said members being movable relative to the other, a latch operable in latching position to maintain said movable member againstmovement and with said heating member in heat exchanging position to the caps on said conveyor member, electro-responsive means operable to release said latch from latching position, and means operable to effect movement of said movable member to reduce the heat transfer from said heating member to said caps.

3. A machine for applying hood caps to botties, the skirts of which caps are provided with a substance rendered adhesive by the application of heat; comprising a frame, bottle advancing means operable to advance uncapped bottles veyor 95 engage the arms of the gate wheel 28!? and are held from further movement until the latch till is moved out of engagement with athe advancment thereof, means operable to urge said heating device from said caps to reduce the heat transfer thereto, latch means operable when in latching position to hold said heating device in heat exchanging relation to said caps, a motor operatively connected to said bottle and cap advancing means and operable to actuate the same, and an electro-responsive device operable upon interruption of the current to said motor to release said latch fro-m latching position.

4. A machine for applying hood caps to bottles, the skirts of which caps are provided with a substance rendered adhesive by the application of heat; comprising a frame, bottle advancing means operable to advance uncapped bottles to a capping station, means for supporting a supply movable toward and from the caps on said cap advancing means, latch means operable when in latching position to hold said heating device in heat exchanging relation to caps on said cap advancing means, a motor operatively connected to said bottle and cap advancing means and operable to actuate the same, an electro-responsive device operable upon interruption of the current to said motor to release said latch from latching position, and means operable to move said heating device out of heat exchanging relation to said caps upon release of said latch.

5. A machine for applying hood caps to bottles, the skirts of which caps are provided with a substance rendered adhesive by the application of heat; comprising a frame, a bottle carrying turret rotatably mounted on the frame, means operable to feed uncapped bottles onto said turret and to transfer capped bottles from the turret, means for supporting a supply of caps, a cap conveyor arranged intermediate said supply and said turret, a cap transfer mechanism operable to successively transfer caps from said supply to said conveyor, and said conveyor being operable to convey the transferred caps and deposit the same on the tops of uncapped bottles carried by said turret, a cap heating oven arranged in juxtaposition to said cap conveyor and being normally positioned in heat exchanging re-' lation to the caps on said conveyor, said oven being movable in a direction from said conveyor to efiect reduction of heat transfer to said caps, means yieldingly urging said oven from normal heat exchanging position, a latch movably mounted upon the frame and being operable when in latching position to maintain said oven from movement, a motor operatively connected to said turret, cap transfer mechanism and cap conveyor, and being operable to actuate the same, an electro-responsive device connected in the circult of said motor and being operable upon interruption of said circuit to effect movement of said latch out of latching position.

6. A machine for applying hood caps to hottles, the skirts of which caps are provided with a substance rendered adhesive by the application of heat; comprising a frame, a turret rotatably mounted on the frame and being operable to advance uncapped bottles to a capping station and to convey capped bottles from said station, a cap conveyor arranged in juxtaposition to said turret and operable to convey caps to bottles at said capping station, means for supporting a supply of caps, and transfer mechanism operable to transfer caps successively from said supply to said conveyor, a cap heating device arranged in juxtaposition to said conveyor and being normally positioned in proximity thereto and in heat exchanging relation to the caps carried thereby, said heating device being movable in a direction from said conveyor to reduce the heat transfer to said caps, a latch carried by the frame and operable when in latching position to maintain said heating device in normal position, a motor operatively connected to said turret, transfer mechanism and conveyor, and operable to actuate the same, a solenoid connected in circuit with said motor and being operable upon interruption of said circuit to release said latch from latching position, and means operable to cause said heating device to move out of normal position upon release of said latch.

7. A machine for applying hood caps to bottles, the skirts of which caps are provided with a substance rendered adhesive by the application of heat: comprising a frame, a turret rotatably mounted on the frame and being operable to advance uncapped bottles to a capping station and to convey capped bottles from said station, a cap conveyor arranged in juxtaposition to said turret and operable to convey caps to bottles at said capping station, means for supporting a supply of caps, and transfer mechanism operable to transfer caps successively from said supply to said conveyor, a cap heating device arranged in juxtaposition to said conveyor and being normally positioned in proximity thereto and in heat exchanging relation to the caps carried thereby, said heating device being movable in a direction from said conveyor to reduce the heat transfer to said caps, a latch carried by the frame and operable when in latching position to maintain said heating device in normal position, a motor operatively connected to said turret, transfer mechanism and conveyor and operable to actuate the same, a solenoid connected in circuit with said motor and being operable upon interruption of said circuit to release said latch from latching position, means operable to cause said heating device to move out of normal position upon release of said latch, and means carried by the frame and manually operable for resetting said heating device to normal position.

8. A machine for applying hood caps to bottles, the skirts of which caps are provided with a substance rendered adhesive by the application of heat; comprising a frame, a turret rotatably mounted on the frame and being operable to advance uncapped bottles to a capping station and to convey capped bottles from said station,

a cap conveyor arranged in juxtaposition to said turret and operable to convey caps to bottles at said capping station, means for supporting a supply of caps, and transfer mechanism operable to transfer caps successively from said supply to said conveyor, a cap heating device arranged in juxtaposition to said conveyor and being normally positioned in proximity thereto and in heat exchanging relation to the caps carried thereby, said heating device being movable in a direction from said conveyor to reduce the heat transfer to said caps, a latch carried by the frame and operable when in latching position to maintain said heating device in normal position, a motor operatively connected to said turret, transfer mechanism and conveyor, and operable to actuate the same, a solenoid connected in circuit with said motor andbeing operable upon interruption of said circuit to release said latch from latching position, means operable to cause said heating device to move out of normal position upon release of said latch, and manually operable means carried by the frame and including gearing for resetting said heating device to normal position.

9. A capping machine comprising a base, a bottle carrying turret rotatably mounted upon the base, means operable to feed uncapped bottles onto said turret and to transfer capped bottles from the turret, a cap conveyor arranged in juxtaposition to said turret, means for supporting a plurality of caps in stack formation, a cap heating oven, cap transfer mechanism operable to transfer the caps from said supply to said conveyor, said conveyor being operable to transfer the caps through said oven and to deposit the caps on the tops of the bottles on said turret, a motor mounted in the base, a power circuit for said motor, motion transmitting 10. A machine for applying hood caps to hot tles, the skirts of which caps are provided with a substance rendered adhesive by the application of heat; comprising means operable to advance a procession of bottles, a cap heating means operable to heat a procession of caps and to deposit the heated caps on the tops of the bottles during the advancement thereof, means for supporting a supply of caps in stack formation, a cap transfer suction cup, motion transmitting means operable in timed relation to the advancement of the bottles to oscillate said cup between a position in engagement with the lowermost cap of said stack formation and a position in proximity to said cap heating means, a source of vacuum, valve mechanism, connecting said suction cup and said source of vacuum, a bottle actuatable controller arranged injuxtaposition to the advancement of said bottles and being operable upon engagement by each bottle to shift said valve mechanism to connect said suction cup to said source of vacuum, and cam means operable in timed relation to the advancement of said procession of bottles to shift said valve mechanism and connect said suction cup to atmosphere.

JOHN F. PRICE. 

